Automatic fire extinguisher for automobiles



R. H. HODGES May 29, 1956 AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jan. 29, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F l' g. 5

Robert H. Hodges INVENTOR.

9 BY (ma W 1? M Fig. 3

May29, 1956 R. H. HODGES 2,747,674

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jan. 29, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Robert H, Hodges INVENTOR.

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER FOR AUTOMOBILES Robert H; Hodges, Columbia,.S. C. Application January 29, 1953, Serial No. 333,942

11 Claims. (Cl. 169-2) This invention relates to fire extinguishers and more particularly to such devices adapted to be associated with automotive vehicles.

Many persons temporarily escape death or serious injury when the vehicles in which they are riding are involved in accidents only to lose their lives or to be further seriously injured due to the fact that the vehicles involved in the accidents are likely to catch on fire. It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a fire extinguisher which will automatically spray the internal combustion engine with a coolant which is also a fire extinguisher so that the probability that the vehicle will catch on fire is substantially reduced if not eliminated.

The construction of this invention features the use of inertia actuated devices for causing fluid under pressure to be released so as to spray the internal combustion engine of the vehicle with a fire extinguishing-fluid when the vehicle is subjected to an unusually large acceleration or deceleration in any direction.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the provision of an inertia actuated fire extinguisher for automotive vehicles that is strong and durable, simple in construction and manufacture, capable of being readily installed on all types of existing motor vehicles, and which is inexpensive to produce.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this automatic fire extinguisher for vehicles, preferred embodiments of which have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view shown a first embodi ment of the invention as supported by a bracket carried by an internal combustion engine;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the inertia fire extinguisher;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the first form of the invention;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional detail view showing the construction of the weakened portions of the upper and lower container which are joined by breakable connectors;

Figure 5 is a perspective view similar to that of Figure 2 but showing the elements of the invention after having been inertia actuated;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a second form of theinvention;

Figure 7 is an enlarged elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 6 after having been actuated;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of the form of the invention as is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of a further form of the invention employing the fire wall of the vehicle as a tank for a relatively large quantity of fire extinguishing fluid; and

Figure 10 is a sectional detail view showing the construction of the petcock and the breakable connector used 2,747,674 Patented May 29, 1956 2. for permitting flow of fluid from thetank and out of the petcock.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings whereinlikereference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, and with particular attention to Figures 1 through 5 it will be seen that the fire' extinguisher comprising the present invention is adapted to be mounted on an internal combustion engineltl by means of brackets 12 ofany suitable or desired configuration. The brackets 12 carry a clamp 14 within which the upper container 16 of the fire extinguisher' is mounted. The upper container 16 has a lower conical shaped section 18 which is joined-by a breakable connector 19 having a central aperture 20 and by integral portions with'the upper conical section 22 of a lower container 24. As can be readily seen the lower conical section 18' and the upper conical section 22 may be integrally formed with each other and provided with a weakened apertured break slot or groove 26 in order to insure that the lower container 24 will break free from the upper container upon inertia actuation. The upper container 16 and the lower container 24 are provided as is necessary with fusible plugs 28 which if the engine 10 were to catch fire or if the vehicle were to be subjected to intense heat no matter what the cause, the fusible plugs 28 would melt thus permitting the escape of the contents of the extinguisher. A lead weight 30 is molded within the confines of a flange portion 32 of the lower container 24 so as to insure that the lower container 24 will be responsive to any unusually large acceleration or deceleration in any direction; Referring now to the form of the invention as is shown in Figures 6 through 8 it will be seen that a bracket 40 is provided which is attached to any suitable mounting surface of the vehicle. The bracket 40 embraces the lower container 42 which is provided with a substantially conical recessed portion 44 for reception of the lower conical section 46 of' the upper container 48.- The upper container 48 has attached thereto a breakable ap'ertured' connector 50 which is joined by a chain 52 to the lower container 42. A further breakable connector 54 is attached to the lower container 42 and to the midpoint of a chain 56 terminally attached to the upper container 48 and the lower container 42-. A fusible plug 58 is provided for the upper container 48 as is a fusible plug 69 for the lower container 42. Hence, upon application of rapid acceleration or deceleration the upper container 48 will be lifted out of the recess 44 and willcause the connectors 54 and 50 to break adjacent the containers so that the liquid content of the containers will be sprayed out over the internal combustion engine.

Referring now to the embodiment as is shown in Figures 9 and 10 it will be seen that the fire wall of this vehicle comprises a tank 70 forming the lower container of the fire extinguisher on which brackets 72 are attached. The brackets consist of circular loops or cones in which the upper containers 74 on either side of the fire wall 70 are secured. The upper containers 74 are joined to the fire wall 70 by means 76 which are attached to breakable and preferably apertured connectors 78 inserted in the petcocks 80 which control flow of fiuid from the tank 70. Breakable connectors may be provided at the other end of the chain 76 toward the upper containers 74 and if desired suitable fusible plugs may be provided for both the tank and the upper containers 74.

Upon application of a rapid acceleration or deceleration or if the car overturns the upper containers 74 which if desired may be formed simply as weights to cause the breakable connectors 78 to shatter thus permitting flow of fluid from the petcocks which are always kept in an open position. If no fire is present in the interior of the car the operator may readily shut off the petcock to prevent flow of the fluid and hence damage to the interior fabrics and the upholstery of the automobile.

It is to be noted that in each of the forms of the invention the fire extinguisher employs the fluid under pressure such as carbon dioxide, carbon tetrachloride, chlorobromoethane or other readily available commercially produced fluid, gas or other extinguishing material. Thus, a safety factor is introduced when these fire extinguishers are used in conjunction with automotive vehicles.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to.

With reference in particular to Figure it is to be noted that various combinations and relocations of the elements of the invention may be resorted to including the use of a fusible plug 82 within the petcock 80 itself. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the depth of the recesses for mounting the upper sections of the fire extinguisher and other parts thereof may be varied in size and shape depending only upon the type of vehicle with which the device is used. Obviously normal operation of an airplane would cause greater strain than an automobile and would require a larger fire extinguisher.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new 1. An inertia actuated fire extinguisher comprising a first and a second container having a fire extinguishing fluid therein, means loosely detachably mounting said first container on said second container, and a breakable connector having an aperture therethrough attaching said first container to said second container whereby upon application of a predetermined force said containers will move relatively to each other to break said connector and permit said fire extinguishing fluid to escape from said extinguisher.

2. An inertia actuated fire extinguisher comprising an upper and a lower container having a fire extinguishing fluid therein, means mounting said upper container above said lower container, and a breakable connector having an aperture therethrough attaching said upper container to said lower container whereby upon application of a predetermined force said containers will move relatively to each other to break said connector and permit said fire extinguishing fluid to escape from said extinguisher, said upper container having a lower conical section, said lower container having an upper conical section, the apices of said lower conical section and said upper conical section being joined by said breakable connector.

3. An inertia actuated fire extinguisher comprising an upper and a lower container having a fire extinguishing fluid therein, means mounting said upper container above said lower container, and a breakable connector having an aperture therethrough attaching said upper container to said lower container whereby upon application of a predetermined force said containers will move relatively to each other to break said connector and permit said fire extinguishing fluid to escape from said extinguisher, said upper container having a lower conical section, said lower container having an upper conical section, the apices of said lower conical section and said upper conical section being joined by said breakable connector, said fire extinguishing fluid being contained under pressure, said breakable connector when broken defining a nozzle permitting said escape of said fluid.

4. An inertia actuated fire extinguisher comprising an.

upper container above said lower container, and a breakable connector attaching said upper container to said lower container whereby upon application of a predetermined force said containers will move relatively to each other to break said connector away from said extinguisher forming an opening in said extinguisher to permit said fire extinguishing fluid to escape from said extinguisher, said upper container having a lower conical section, said lower container having an upper conical recess therein, said lower conical section of said upper container being received in said recess.

5. An inertia actuated fire extinguisher comprising an upper and a lower container having a fire extinguishing fluid therein, means loosely detachably mounting said upper container above said lower container, and a breakable connector attaching said upper container to said lower container whereby upon application of a predetermined force said containers will move relatively to each other to break said connector away from said extinguisher forming an opening in said extinguisher to permit said fire extinguishing fluid to escape from said extinguisher, said upper container having a lower conical section, said lower container having an upper conical recess therein, said lower conical section of said upper container being received in said recess, said connector being attached to a chain secured to said lower container.

6. An inertia actuated fire extinguisher comprising an upper and a lower container having a fire extinguishing fluid therein, means loosely detachably mounting said upper container above said lower container, and a breakable connector attaching said upper container to said lower container whereby upon application of a predetermined force said containers will move relatively to each other to break said connector away from said extinguisher forming an opening in said extinguisher to permit said fire extinguishing fluid to escape from said extinguisher, said connector being attached to a chain secured to said lower container.

7. An inertia actuated fire extinguisher comprising an upper and a lower container having a fire extinguishing fluid therein, means loosely detachably mounting said upper container above said lower container, and a breakable connector having an aperture therethrough attaching said upper container to said lower container whereby upon application of a predetermined force said containers will move relatively to each other to break said connector and permit said fire extinguishing fluid to escape from said extinguisher, said upper container having a lower conical section, said lower container having an upper conical recess therein, said lower conical section of said upper container being received in said recess, said connector being attached to a chain secured to said lower container, said fire extinguishing fluid being contained under pressure, said breakable connector when broken defining a nozzle permitting said escape of said fluid.

8. An inertia actuated fire extinguisher comprising an upper and a lower container having a fire extinguishing fluid therein, means loosely detachably mounting said upper container above said lower container, and a breakable connector having an aperture therethrough attaching said upper container to said lower container whereby upon application of a predetermined force said containers will move relatively to each other to break said connector and permit said fire extinguishing fluid to escape from said extinguisher, and fusible plugs in said upper and lower containers.

9. An inertia actuated fire extinguisher comprising a first and a second container having a fire extinguishing fluid therein, means loosely detachably mounting said first container on said second container, and a breakable connector having an aperture therethrough attaching said first container to said second container whereby upon application of a predetermined force said containers will move relatively to each other to break said connector and permit said fire extinguishing fluid to escape from said extinguisher, said first container having a lower conical section, brackets attached to said second container receiving said lower conical section, said second container comprising a vertically extending tank adapted to be used as the fire wall of a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine.

10. An inertia actuated fire extinguisher comprising a first and a second container, having a fire extinguishing fluid therein, means loosely detachably mounting said first container on said second container, and a breakable connector having an aperture therethrough attaching said first container to said second container whereby upon application of a predetermined force said containers will move relatively to each other to break said connector and permit said fire extinguishing fluid to escape from said extinguisher, said first container having a lower conical section, brackets attached to said lower container receiving said lower conical section, said second container comprising a vertically extending tank adapted to be used as the fire wall of a vehicle powered by an internal References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 458,171 Johnson Aug. 25, 1891 1,840,986 Townsend Jan. 12, 1932 2,025,326 Bouillon Dec. 24, 1935 20 2,588,788 Zell Mar. 11, 1952 

